Consultant ToR_Gender Mainstreaming Baseline Study in Kenya_Bengo Project 10 views0 applications

BLOOMING FLOWERS – ENHANCING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN THE FLOWER SECTOR IN KENYA

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is currently seeking qualified consultant(s) to undertake a baseline study for 10 Fairtrade Certified Flower Producer organizations beneficiaries on Improved socio-economic participation results in dignified livelihoods for female workers in the flower sector in Kenya. The baseline study is carried out to establish accurate baselines for the agreed project indicators in line with the project scope and design. The baseline study will also be used to refine the definition of the indicators (what they are) and how they will be measured throughout the project. This will lead to the development of the projects’ MEL plan and update the impact matrix

• 1.INTRODUCTION
  Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella organization representing Fairtrade certified producers in Africa and the Middle East. Fairtrade Africa is a member of Fairtrade International, the umbrella organization for Fairtrade worldwide. FTA works within the Fairtrade system to support over 1.1 million farmers and workers in over 500 producer organizations spread over 33 countries. The support to producers is aimed at enabling them to maintain their Fairtrade certification which enables them to access better prices, decent working conditions and fairer terms of trade. Fairtrade Africa interventions are guided by the Fairtrade Theory of Change which is a generic theory that visually expresses how Fairtrade´s interventions ultimately lead to the three Fairtrade Goals: Make Trade Fair, Improving Sustainable Livelihoods and Empowerment of workers.
  2.PROJECT CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
  The overall aim of the project is to improve the socio-economic participation and job security translating to dignified livelihoods for female workers in the flower sector in Kenya. While Article 41 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees every person the right to fair labor practices and gives employees, employers, trade unions and employers’ associations special duties and rights, studies have indicated significant gaps in Kenya’s compliance with international labor laws and acceptable working conditions. This stems from the lack or failure of effective implementation of both the international conventions that Kenya is signatory to, and the relevant Kenyan laws, including the Employment Act (2007), by the appointed government agencies. As a result, employees are vulnerable and exposed to malpractices including curtailed freedom of association, discrimination, low wages, excessive working hours, compromised health and safety protection, sexual harassment, and breach of other terms and conditions of employment.

  The cut flower sector is no exception to the persistence of inherently patriarchal systems and trends that characterize society as a whole, including businesses. With most female employees, the sector needs strategies that promote women’s economic empowerment, gender-sensitive policies and systems that effectively strengthen women’s rights.
  Fairtrade has made crucial contributions to the improvement and sustainability of the Kenyan flower sector, through both the Fairtrade Standards and targeted programmes that address producers and employees’ needs beyond certification. However, gender issues are dynamic with social and cultural complexities that go beyond certification at the farm. While the Fairtrade Producers have gender policies and grievance handling procedures as per the Fairtrade Standards, this does not necessarily translate to systemic change and long-term entrenched practices. Attitudinal changes towards gender and women empowerment can be slow and sometimes regressive. Fairtrade Africa’s approach to long term and institutional change is modelled on Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. This framework outlines eight rings, each representing a level of citizen engagement, ranging from manipulation and therapy (non-participation) to citizen control.
  Further, in 2017 Fairtrade conducted a gender needs assessment study on flower farms in East Africa. The study determined that there were specific gender related disparities at the farms, connected to low levels of awareness on gender-based issues. It is on this background that the project, Blooming Flowers- Enhancing Women’s Empowerment in the Flower Sector in Kenya has been conceived.
  Through this project, Fairtrade aims to progress interventions on empowerment of female workers in the flower farms in Kenya, by addressing gender equality and social-economic challenges in the sector. Over the 20 months implementation period, it is envisioned that the project will result in improved gender equality and socio- economic empowerment of female workers on flower farms in Kenya through the following project outcomes; –
  1.Improved knowledge and skills of flower farm workers in terms of leadership development and entrepreneurship.
  2.Improved capacities for gender mainstreaming and transformative approaches to protect against gender-based discrimination and gender-based violence (including sexual harassment) on flower farms.
  3.An enabling environment for the promotion of gender-sensitive approaches and the empowerment of women in the flower supply chain.

  3.BASELINE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
  Purpose: The study will measure the initial status of all the proposed project implementation indicators, outlining the starting point of key elements of the project activities. This will facilitate performance monitoring and measurement of the project indicators at output and outcome level. Through the baseline study, concrete proxy indicators and questions will be defined in order to gain a better understanding of the changes and effects that the project will have on the target groups and to make the qualitative indicators measurable. This will be updated in the project impact matrix and a MEL plan.
  Objectives of the baseline study includes but not limited to:
  1.Identify the existing gender gaps and the approaches applied by the target 10 flower farms.
  2.Establish the status of all the proposed project objectives and indicators.
  3.Update the project impact matrix to inform the monitoring benchmarks and aid in evaluating the project implementation against the project logical framework.

  4.STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
  The baseline study should adopt a mixed method approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to ensure triangulation of data. The consultant(s) is expected to develop appropriate study design and data collection instruments and tools for use during the study. It is expected that the consultant(s) team will combine workers surveys with in-depth key informant interviews and focus-group discussions. In undertaking the study, the consultant(s) will review relevant project documents and any other relevant statistics. Fairtrade Africa shall share provide key project information sources and documents. Suitable proposed methodology and approach shall be considered for the assignment.
  5.SCOPE
  The study will be conducted across 10 flower farms targeted by the project around Lake Naivasha and in the Lower Rift region (Nakuru and Eldoret) in Kenya.
  6.OUTPUTS / DELIVERABLES
  The following deliverables are expected from the consultants(s) in due process of the assignment:
  a.Inception Report: The consultant(s) shall submit an inception report after signing the consultancy agreement, detailing suitable methodology, sampling strategy, data collection tools and work plan.
  b.Draft Baseline Report: A detailed draft baseline study report will be shared with FTA for feedback.
  c.Validation Meeting: Upon submission of the baseline report, consultant(s) will be responsible for presenting the most significant findings to the project team and stakeholders
  through a meeting that shall be mobilized and organized by FTA to get feedback on critical areas and update the baseline report. Thereafter,
  d.Final Baseline Study Report: This should be no more than 30 pages excluding the annexes both hard copy and electronic along with all data (csv, excel, SPSS compatible formats) transcripts of the qualitative data, quantitative data and photographs. It should consist of the impact matrix and MEL plan detailing the baseline values for all the project indicators and frequency of measurement.
  7.CONSULTANCY EXPERTISE / QUALIFICATIONS
  The proposed consultants(s) should have vast knowledge of the baseline study processes and vast experience in agricultural value chains, with biasness in flower value chain. The specific qualifications are:
  ▪ An advanced degree in any of the following or related disciplines: Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, gender studies, development studies, and other relevant courses.
  ▪ Demonstrated experience working in a flower and plants value chain will have an added advantage.
  ▪ Strong understanding of the flower value chain and producer organization contexts.
  ▪ Demonstrable experience in conducting project baseline studies using varied data collection methods and approaches.
  ▪ Must have extensive expertise and experience in project planning, project design, applying the logical framework, project implementation and monitoring.
  ▪ Excellent report writing and presentation skills.
  ▪ Demonstrable understanding of gender concepts and principles.
  ▪ Experience/ understanding of Fairtrade principles and standards shall be an added advantage.
  8. STUDY MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

  The consultant(s) will be working closely with the Project Manager, Gender Coordinator, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) officer to provide FTA internal guidance and key linkage between the project actors, partners and sharing of relevant project documents/information.

  9. WORK PLAN AND TIMELINES

  The study is expected to take place from 13th January to 31st January 2025, for a duration of 15 working days maximum.
  10. THE APPLICATION PROCESS

  All applications must include the following;
  a) A technical and financial proposal.
  b) A cover letter outlining how the consultant(s) meets the qualification and expertise desired, signed and with official stamp.
  c) An Expression of Interest (EOI) of not more than 5 pages. This shall contain;
  ▪ the consultant(s)’ understanding of the TOR.
  ▪ how the evaluator(s) will undertake the evaluation using the proposed methodology and approach.
  ▪ how the consultant(s) meet the requirement of the study and the proposed work plan.
  d) Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of individuals or team members and their roles in delivering the assignment.
  e) One or two samples of prior relevant/similar assignment that the consultant(s) have undertaken.
  f) Names of at least two references who can be contacted regarding the consultant(s)’ relevant experiences.
  g) A firm profile (if any) including all details of the firm.
  h) Evidence of tax compliance.